An upcoming hearing will likely decide how much of a say Boston will have when it comes to a pair of casino proposals just over the city line.

As proposals in Revere and Everett vie for the Greater Boston region’s lone casino license, Boston is seeking status as a host community. Such a designation would give the city rights to negotiate mitigation and the power to potentially block a casino through binding votes.

Although the proposed Wynn Resorts casino in Everett and Mohegan Sun’s proposed casino in Revere would be built in those communities, Boston officials argue the premises of the proposed establishments and associated amenities would extend across the city line and depend on Boston infrastructure.

In advance of the May 1 Gaming Commission hearing, Boston’s attorneys drafted a critical letter accusing commission Chairman Stephen Crosby of bias and calling for him to recuse himself.

“Taken together, the pending federal lawsuit, recent Commission statements, current press articles, and the Commission’s own actions, create a cloud over the proceedings when Chairman Crosby participates,” Elizabeth Dello Russo, Boston’s senior assistant corporation counsel, wrote in an April 17 letter to the commission.

Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the panel is focused on conducting a fair process.

“The Commission’s role is not to participate in or be distracted by the politicizing of certain aspects of this process but instead to remain focused on the mission and challenge at hand: to successfully implement the expanded gaming law in a manner that is participatory, transparent and fair,” she said in a statement.

Mohegan Sun and Wynn Resorts each agree that Boston qualifies as a surrounding community rather than a host community. Surrounding community status would give Boston rights to negotiate payments to mitigate impacts from a casino, but wouldn’t give the city the power to hold binding votes to approve or reject a proposed gambling facility.

The Mohegan Sun proposal originally included casino facilities in both the Revere and East Boston sections of Suffolk Downs, but was reconfigured after East Boston voters rejected a casino in their neighborhood by referendum. The proposal now calls for a casino located on the Revere side of the line, although the existing Suffolk Downs horse track will be just over the line in Boston.

Casino opposition group No Eastie Casino filed a legal brief with the commission arguing that Boston deserves host community rights.

In a separate brief, attorneys for Mohegan Sun say the entire gambling establishment, as it’s defined by law, will be within Revere.

Page 2 of 2 - “Planning will continue to evolve moving forward, but the result will remain the same: no element of the gaming establishment will be located in the City of Boston,” the brief states.

Attorneys for Wynn Resorts also field a brief disputing Boston’s claims that it should be a host community for the Everett proposal.

“The gaming establishment proposed by Wynn is still and always has been located entirely within the City of Everett,” the attorneys state in the brief. “As such, Boston’s assertion that it is a host community should be rejected and Boston’s status as a surrounding community should be again confirmed.”

— Gerry Tuoti is the Regional Newsbank Editor for GateHouse Media New England. Email him at gtuoti@tauntongazette.com or call him at 508-967-3137.